An ultralight small plane towing an advertising banner lost control and crashed into the sea off Copacabana Beach, a famous tourist destination in Brazil, in full view of many tourists. Initial reports confirm the pilot's body has been found dead. The Brazilian Air Force is urgently investigating the cause.
Foreign news agencies reported a tragic incident on Saturday afternoon (27 Dec) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when a small private plane towing an advertising banner crashed into the sea near Copacabana Beach, a world-renowned tourist site.
Brazilian authorities released CCTV footage from the area showing the moment the plane rapidly plunged nose-first into the sea at about 12:30 p.m. local time, causing it to sink immediately.
After the crash, rescue teams from the fire department quickly mobilized, using jet skis, rubber boats, divers, and aerial support. They also deployed sonar equipment to search for the wreckage and check for additional victims. Officials have confirmed they recovered the pilot’s body and sent it to the forensic institute for autopsy and official identification.
The Brazilian Air Force stated that an investigation into the true cause of the accident has been launched. Preliminary data indicate the aircraft was a Cessna 170A owned by an advertising company, performing banner towing over the beach area at the time of the accident.
The incident caused significant alarm among residents and tourists resting on the beach, as it is a heavily crowded area throughout the day.
/sourceAP